That’s an ominous title for a post, isn’t it? I mean, when we think about hearing voices, we think of someone who may be experiencing mental health issues or may be in need of medication. But the truth is that all of us hear voices, all day, every day.

The media screams at us. There is chatter all around us at work or in class. We talk to ourselves at a never-ending clip. Voices are coming at us from every direction, and the question that we must consider is this: which of those voices are we listening to?

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. (John‬ ‭10:27‬ ‭ESV, emphasis mine)

Jesus added His voice to the growing list of voices that we can hear, but He used a word that carries a stronger meaning than just hearing. In essence, He said that His followers would “attend to, and consider what He says” and that they would “understand, and comprehend what is announced in His presence.”

That, friends, is so much more than hearing. Jesus said that His followers would listen and give heed to the things He says. This is why He would often say, “let the one who has ears, hear.” He wasn’t talking about physical ears, but the ability to understand and then do what was said.

Today, you and I will hear many voices, but that doesn’t mean we need to heed many voices. We would do well to only listen to one.

I’m writing this right before I head out the door to tackle my sixth run in six days. I’m not usually a “run every day” kind of guy because rest is so crucial to the body’s recovery, but I’m also committed to something bigger than just myself.

I’m part of a team of runners all over who log their miles and compete against other virtual teams in weekly competitions, and this week is the first week of the semifinal round of the playoffs. So, I’m running a bit more than normal along with my other teammates. In short, I’m doing my part.

From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. (Ephesians‬ ‭4:16‬ ‭NIV, emphasis mine)‬‬

We all love to belong to things bigger than ourselves. A fan group, a running group, or in the case of our verse, the body of Christ. But there is a responsibility that comes with belonging, and that is a commitment to do our part.

In business, leaders shout all about the 80/20 rule — that 80 percent of the work is done by 20 percent of the people — and many church leaders shout it, too.

But what if only 20% of your body contributed meaningfully to your existence? We’d be calling 911, right?

There is only one principle that should describe the body of Christ, and that’s the 100/100 rule: 100 percent of the body (as each part) giving 100 percent for the body (does its part).

Why don’t we see this more? Because it’s so much easier to say we belong than to serve what we say we belong to. But belonging requires something of us, and that’s why I’m headed out the door on a cold morning when I’d rather stay in and drink coffee.

I’m part of a team, and that team needs my part. If you belong to the body of Christ, the same is true of you.

There is a growing deception in the American church, one that is subtle, hard to detect, and so very dangerous. It’s difficult to see because it pairs so well with our rugged American individualism, and it plays on our desire to do whatever we want and still be loved by God.

In short, we don’t like limits, and so we fall for the lie that we don’t have any.

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. (Philippians‬ ‭4:13‬ ‭NASB, emphasis mine)

Even though we know that we could never save ourselves, or pull ourselves up by our own spiritual bootstraps, we find it easier to live as if we could. If we don’t stay connected to the Vine, we begin to lose sight of those middle three words and slowly start to only see the first five.

“I can do all things.”

We turn it into a mantra, a philosophy, a pre-workout playlist. We begin to believe that we are limitless, and that we’re called to live a boundary-free life. The result of this thinking is simply that anything that feels like a limit can’t be from God. After all, “I can do all things” must be the eternal “yes” to whatever our hearts desire!

The whisper of the serpent is so compelling because it always contains some element of truth, and this lie is no different.

We really can do all things because nothing is impossible to the one who believes (Mark 9:23), but that doesn’t mean that we should do all things.

Occasionally, the situations we face bring us face-to-face with our limitations so that we will remember the three words that this promise hinges on.

“Through Him who…”

We can only do all things when we allow Him to give us His strength, and there is nothing in that statement that allows us to take any credit for the things we do. We are nothing apart from Him (John 15:5), and we need His power for everything we do.

Limits are frustrating, but they aren’t debilitating when we allow them to point us to the Limitless One. And in that moment, we’ll find the power we need to do all things through Him who strengthens us.